Solar Parking Lots represents sustainability, jobs and economic recovery in every community across our country.

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Checking In with ya'll Solar Lot Lizards *grin*

Taking a full load at UNC-Greensboro: Weather and Climate, Remote Sensing, Music Appreciation and German 204 (my fourth and final semester, maybe!). Very busy. For my Remote Sensing project I have approval to analyze the 5 main park n ride lots in Chapel Hill (where I live, commute to Greensboro by car or train) for electrical capacity. Yeah! My professor says to put the distribution lines on the final image/map as well. And to include costing data in my report. Ugh. However, there is a solar company within a mile of me. I emailed one company and they completely ignored me! Are they part of the 1%'ers?
Speaking of the very few in power that have previously ran our nation, I fully believe that it is their greed for more money that has the solar industry making such a slow start. Here in NC, the net metering wasn't approved until many citizens got involved - the Utility Commission in this state is clearly being lobbied by Duke Energy! And their repetitive requests for 18% residential rate increases as well as gaining approval for a coal plant nobody wanted and studies showed was not needed (Cliffside). I remember one protest I went to: very friendly & positive: yet one lady tells me, "I don't care how they make my money, I just want my money!" Now that is typical of what I believe is the attitude behind what those "Occupying" want to change. Personally, I'm into saving the planet. I love life. Period. End of line.
I also am going to go through with another project I have in mind as I'll be able to use most of what I'm gathering for this project for that one. I hope they keep the computer lab open on campus (in our Geography building) over the semester break! I plan on using it daily! For this project I am planning on a poster for the output - and planning on selling it at UNC-Chapel Hill events once I obtain a peddler's license! These kids love their school (most do, right?!) and the Sustainability Office here at UNC-CH has already changed their Chancellor's decision on going with renewable energy prior to his deadline! So, back to work! Let's get this party started! *grin*
many smiles~
Joy

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About Me

I believe in renewable energy, specifically solar --- for parking lots. I'd rather be star mapping but someone has to do something about all those darn slabs that take tons of fossil fuel to create (the cement and/or asphalt), increase the imperviousness which in turn increases runoff & pollution in our watersheds, heat up the atmosphere, and prevent barefoot strolling on hot days! Tuned into spatial analysis and am building on the computer skills I began in the Air Force (database administrator, mainframes, base support computer, had that response time down to 1.5 seconds! And we had to seriously balance the i/o's on those platters! (oops, am I showing my age here?)). Covering all that paved parking area with photovoltaic panels will generate enough electricity for each community. Let's change those net metering laws, subsidize solar energy rather than the outdated gasoline automobile makers, put some solar arrays lids on all our parking lots, and start slamming amps through our engines! Charge up that spiffy EV at work! And keep some gradient in in our atmosphere, darn it. Ah, to go barefoot again on a stroll across the community....

I also am working on getting the recycling laws changed (and enforced)
here in NC. Trash Call is the name of that project which is on the back burner due to lack of time, and the funds to make time. But check out that blog for an interesting, albeit short, read. Trash Call was to get started with a mobile phone app used by folks to identify which bus stops needed recycling bins; after all, it isillegal for plastic bottles to enter the main waste stream. The app will be named Trash Callerz. Again, time and funds. Hopefully this will be a GIS Master's project for me soon.

Green Bagging It was to be the non-profit that came from Trash Call and would be dedicated to raising
awareness of the spatial impacts of recyclable material to
provide the NC prisoners with re-usable bags.